The Madiba Magic, which is spread all around SA as the country celebrates Nelson Mandela's birthday on Friday, could stimulate Kevin “Two Guns” Lerena and Phumelela “The Truth” Cafu to victory as they raise the flag in super boxing matches outside the country.
Lerena and Cafu have tough assignments this weekend, facing credible champions in their backyards. On Saturday, Lerena will be at the 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium, against Englishman Lawrence Okolie.
Okolie's WBC silver heavyweight belt will be on the line.
Then in the wee hours on Sunday (SA), WBO junior-bantam world champ, Cafu, will attempt to unify belts with WBC and The Ring champion, Jesse "Bam" Rodrigruez of San Antonio, Texas. The venue for the unification match is the Ford Centre at The Star in Frisco, also in Texas.
Rodriguez is seen as the next big star to emerge from the lower weight divisions, with the potential to reach pound-for-pound great status. He is signed with Matchroom Boxing and promoter Eddie Hearn, who will stage the fight on Sunday morning.
Lerena and Cafu participate in a sport that Mandela loved dearly. Mandela's magic inspired IBO featherweight world champ, Simpiwe “V12" Vetyeka, to an unlikely victory against the longest-reigning WBA holder, Chris “Dragon” John, in 2013. Victory in Texas will see Cafu become the third local pugilist to unify titles, the first being Hekkie “Hexecutioner” Budler.
As for Lerena, whose corner will be manned by Peter Smith, victory will put him in line to face the triumphant between Britain's Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine, who meet in the main bout at Wembley on Saturday.
Usyk's WBA (super), WBC, WBO, IBO and The Ring titles are on the line against Dubois, the IBF holder. The winner will be crowned undisputed heavyweight world champion.
The undefeated 38-year-old Ukrainian has previously defeated Dubois via stoppage in 2023. His other top- name victims in 23 matches include Tony Bellew, Dereck Chisora, Anthony Joshua (twice) and Tyson Fury (twice).
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